Introduction
The CCP’s so-called “September 3 Parade” is not a mere military spectacle but a carefully engineered narrative project. Its goal is to erase the fact that the Republic of China (ROC) was the true main force of the War of Resistance Against Japan, and to forcibly rewrite history so that the CCP appears as the leader of victory. In doing so, Beijing seeks to seize Taiwan’s international discourse power.
Historical Anchoring: Legislating September 3rd as the “Party’s Victory Day”
In 2014, the CCP’s National People’s Congress unilaterally declared September 3 as “Victory Day of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan.” What was originally the date of Japan’s surrender was rebranded as a political symbol. This move laid the legal foundation for the 2015 grand parade, effectively anchoring a false memory through legislation.
Steel Illusion: 2015 Tiananmen Parade: From “National Victory” to “Party’s Victory”
On September 3, 2015, Xi Jinping reviewed over ten thousand troops and massive weapon displays in Tiananmen Square, proclaiming “the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance.” The entire event deliberately bound the Party, the state, and the army into one narrative. What should have been a national victory was hijacked and repackaged as the CCP’s triumph.
Clash with Facts: The ROC Was the True Main Force of the War
During the eight years of resistance, the ROC Nationalist Army fought 22 major battles, bearing the overwhelming burden of casualties and sacrifice. In 2015, officials in Taipei openly condemned the Beijing parade as historical revisionism, emphasizing that the ROC was the legitimate main force of the war. The People’s Republic of China did not even exist until 1949—decades after the victory.
United Front Propaganda: Turning Party Narratives into “National Memory”
The parade was never confined to Beijing. Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Council Information Office, and state-run media, the CCP exported its September 3 narrative as if it were a “shared national memory.” At home it reinforced loyalty; abroad it aimed to cement the illusion that “the CCP equals the Resistance.” This was nothing more than a united-front propaganda show, targeting Taiwan and the world.
Downgrading the ROC: From Main Actor to Mere Supporting Role
In the CCP’s rewritten storyline, the ROC and its veterans are occasionally mentioned but always as “participants under the CCP’s leadership.” This deliberate downgrading tactic acknowledges the ROC’s existence only to strip it of primary status, occupying the discourse space while erasing legitimacy.
Continuing the Script: 2025 Parade Targets Taiwan Again
In 2025, Beijing has announced another “September 3 Parade” to mark the so-called “80th Anniversary of Victory.” Taiwan’s government has already warned its citizens and former officials not to fall into this united-front trap. Once again, the evidence is clear: these parades are not commemorations but continuing political warfare, designed to undermine Taiwan’s position in the international arena.
Global Perspective: Parade Exposed as a “Leader’s Show”
As early as 2015, many Western leaders deliberately skipped the September 3 parade. International media bluntly described it as a nationalist spectacle and a stage for Xi Jinping’s power consolidation. The world has long recognized that the CCP’s parades are less about honoring history and more about rewriting it.
Conclusion: History Cannot Be Rewritten by Parades
The CCP’s formula is clear: legislate the date, stage the parade, seize the narrative. By demoting the ROC’s role to a footnote, Beijing attempts to erase the true main force of the War of Resistance. Taiwan must continue to assert to the world: the Republic of China led the fight and won the victory. No amount of parades or propaganda can overwrite historical truth.